Raspberry Leaf: Rubus idaeus

Raspberry: Rubus idaeus — Thomé, 1885 — Public Domain — Wikimedia Commons

Plant Family & Name:

a. Rosacea

b. The genus name Rubus comes from the Latin word "rubis" for brambles. Others say it comes from the word "red". Ideaus comes from the original habitat, Mount Ida in Turkey.

Habitat & Ecological Role:

Rubus idaeus originated in south Europe/north Asia around

Mount Ida near Troy in northwest Turkey, hence its Latin name Rubus (red) and idaeus (Mount Ida). R. idaeus has been naturalized and inter-bred with other Rubus species from all over the world, notably North America. North American raspberries include: R. strigosus, R. spectabilis, R. parviflorus; and black raspberries R. ursinus, R. occidentalis, R. leucodermis (Hummer, 2010). We commonly see R. spectabilis (salmonberry) in our ecosystem, where this plant is contributing food to wildlife as well as stabilization in early succession ecosystems.

Parts Used: Leaf, fruit.

Herbal Actions: Uterine tonic, antidiarrheal, anti-inflammatory, astringent, antioxidant (berry).

Season: Spring & Summer

Taste: Astringent and slightly bitter (leaf), sweet and astringent (fruit)

Energetic Qualities (leaf): Drying and cooling, light, rough, and hard.

Body system affinities: Epithelial tissues (in general), digestive, reproductive.

Key Points: Raspberry leaf is an astringent to epithelial tissues, and has an affinity for the digestive and reproductive systems making it an excellent ally for wet, overly relaxed, and loose tissues that need to be working more efficiently. It is also helpful for overly wet conditions, such as diarrhea, respiratory congestion, postpartum bleeding, or heavy menses.